Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (November 9, 2011)--Preliminary results show that two upcoming BASF products, Merivon® Xemium® brand fungicide and Priaxor™ Xemium® brand fungicide, have performed well in field research. Merivon and Priaxor are expected to receive U.S. EPA registration in early 2012.

Merivon and Priaxor fungicides are premixes composed of pyraclostrobin—the active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide—and Xemium, a new active ingredient in the carboxamide family. Products containing pyraclostrobin, such as Cabrio® EG fungicide, provide superior disease control and Plant Health benefits.

Merivon contains a 1:1 ratio of this active ingredient to Xemium and Priaxor contains a 2:1 ratio

Priaxor research was conducted primarily on row crops—including soybeans, wheat and corn—as well as select specialty crops, such as potatoes and tomatoes. Merivon research was conducted on specialty crops, specifically pome fruits, such as apples and pears, and stone fruits, including cherries and peaches.

Field trials have been conducted each year since 2009, and preliminary 2011 data further indicates that Merivon and Priaxor will provide long-lasting preventative and disease-stopping protection. Research also shows the products provide good coverage of the leaf surface and systemic distribution to ensure optimum coverage.

Merivon and Priaxor provide continuous protection and excellent control of a variety of troublesome diseases.

Priaxor Research Results

Priaxor results, including preliminary results from 2011 field trials, showed excellent disease control of a number of diseases, including frogeye leaf spot and Septoria brown spot in soybeans. This reaffirms results from the 2009 and 2010 trials, which found that soybeans treated with Priaxor showed as much as 4.5 percent lower severity of frogeye leaf spot and 5.3 percent lower severity of Septoria brown spot compared to soybeans treated with a competitive product. On a scale of 0 to 9, where 0 shows the lowest infection of frogeye leaf spot in soybeans, Priaxor-treated crops rated a 2. Untreated, crops rated a 5.8.

The preliminary 2011 results also showed Priaxor provided excellent control of early blight in potatoes and tomatoes. Potatoes treated with Priaxor showed almost 18 percent less incidence of the disease than those treated with a current fungicide offering.

“Priaxor will be an excellent tool to prevent a broad spectrum of diseases that rob growers’ yields,” said Nick Fassler, BASF Technical Market Manager. “The combination of Xemium and the active ingredient in Headline provides a new level of disease control that will provide healthier plants, higher yield potentials and improved crop quality.”

Merivon Research Results

Preliminary 2011 results for Merivon showed excellent control of diseases such as apple scab, powdery mildew in apple and cherry, brown rot in peach and cherry, and shothole in peach.

The research found apples treated with Merivon showed no incidence of apple scab, compared to 27.2 percent disease incidence when left untreated. The research also found a 1.5 percent incidence of powdery mildew in apples when treated with Merivon compared to 86.8 percent disease incidence when left untreated. Cherries treated with Merivon showed 12.5 percent less incidence of powdery mildew than those treated with a current fungicide offering.

“Apple scab in the Northeastern U.S. and powdery mildew in the Pacific Northwest are two of the most economically devastating diseases for growers,” said Scott Walker, Ph.D., BASF Biology Project Manager for Fungicides. “Research indicates Merivon will be an effective and important tool to help protect tree crops from damaging diseases to produce marketable fruits.”

For more information on these and other BASF Crop Protection products, visit agproducts.basf.us.